Reciprocable die mechanism including cooperating ejector means operative to halt the die movement



3,104,573 EJ ECTOR Sept 24, 1963 s. T. sroorHoFF RECIPROCABLE DIE MECHANISM INCLUDING cooPERATrNG MEANS OPERATIVE TO HALT THE DIE MOVEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March 29, 1957 INVENTOR.

STANLEY T. STOOTHOFF ATTORNEYS Sept. Z4, 1963 s. T. sTooTHoFF 3,104,573

RECIPROCABLE DIE MECHANISM INCLUDING cooPERATlNG EJEcToR MEANS OPERATIVE TO HALT THE DIE MOVEMENT Original Filed March 29, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

STANLEY T STOOTHOF F awe/L d ATTORNEYS SePt- 24, 1963 s. T. s'rooTHoFF 3,104,573

RECIPROCABLE DIE MECHANISM INCLUDING COOPERATING EJECTOR MEANS OPERATIVE T0 HALT THE DIE MOVEMENT original Filed March 29, 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 T MJ A v fflgamdh INVENTOR,

STANLEY T. STOOTHOFF 373 ATTORNEYS Sept. 24, 1963 s. T. sTooTHol-'F 3,104,573

RECIPROCABLE DIE MECHANISM INCLUDING COOPERATING EJECTOR MEANE OPERATIVE TO HALT THE DIE MOVEMENT Original Filed March 29, 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

STANLEY T. STOOTHOFF ATTORNEYS United States Patent O areas/s rmcnnocanrn me tenor-ramera risparmiato COPERTNG ESECTR MEANS GPERA'HVE Claims. (Cl. Sfr-61) This invention relates to a die mechanism and more particularly to a die mechanism adapted to sever and remove a portion of an adhesive sheet which extends over an aperture in a card of the known statistical or tabulating machine type.

This application is a division of my co-pending U.S. patent application SN 649,372, filed March 29, 1957, now U.S. Patent No. 2,940,754, and said application as originally filed forms a part of this disclosure and is incorporated herein by reference.

One object is to provide an improved die mechanism which is particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for die cutting a window opening in an adhesive sheet on a card and extending over an aperture in said card.

Another object is to provide an improved die mechanism for the purpose above-described, wherein the die cut portion of the adhesive sheet is positively displaced away from the region of the card, and each succeeding displaced die cut portion is pressed against and caused to ahdere to a preceding displaced die cut portion.

Another object is to provide in a die mechanism for die cutting a window opening in a sheet, novel vacuum means reciprocable through the die cut opening, whereby the die cut portion of the sheet will be positively seized by said vacuum means and bodily carried away from the sheet.L

A still further object is to provide in a die mechanism for die cutting a window opening in a sheet, novel control means for automatically effecting a control function in the event said mechanism fails to completely die cut from the sheet the portion thereof defining the die cut opening therein.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a general assembly view in side elevation of a card preparing and film mounting machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles ofthe present invention, the supporting base of said machine being only partly shown and having a portion thereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a detail face view of one form of card as initially. prepared and presented to the machine for use therein, the film mounting sheet on said said card having a portion thereof broken away for purposes for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of said card, said view being on an exaggerated scale and being taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates in three fragmentary face views (a), (b) and (c), the card as it appears in its first (a) and second (b) stages of preparation thereof, and in its third and final stage (c) or completed form with a film frame mounted therein, the film mounting sheet on the card in certain of said views having a portion thereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

3&64573 Patented Sept. 2li, i563 lCe FlG. 5 is an enlarged detail elevational view, partly in section, of the die unit for dieing-out a window opening in the film mounting sheet on the card, as seen from the near side of the machine as shown in FIG. 1, the die and cooperating die ,block of said unit being shown in their normal retracted inoperative positions;

FG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, on a reduced scale, of said die unit as seen from the right of FIG. 5 and approximately from the position indicated by the line 6-6 of FlG. 1, the die and cooperating die block of said unit being shown in their actuated sheet cutting positions, and the card conveyor structure being omitted for purposes of clearer illustration;

FiG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, on a reduced scale, of said die unit taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FlG. 5, but showing the die and cooperating die block in their actuated sheet cutting positions, the card conveyor structure being omitted for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 8-*8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 9 9 of FIG. 6;

FiG. 10 is an enlarged detail bottom plan view of the die block assembly as seen from the position indicated by the line lit-10 of FG. 6, with one of the parts having a portion thereof broken awayv for purpose of clearer illustration;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail top plan view of the die assembly as seen from the position indicated by the line '1l-1i of FIG. 6, with one of the parts having a portion thereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;V

FiG. l2 is a vertical sectional view of the vacuum valve shown in FiGS. 5 and 6, saidview being taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 5; y 1

FiG. 13 is a detail elevational view, partly in section, of a control device as seen from the position indicated by the line 13-13 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 14 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 14- 14 0f FIG. 13.

The apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and chosen for the purposes of illustration is particularly adapted for die cutting a window opening in an adhesive sheet extending over an aperture in a card of the type commonly employed in connection with statistical, tabulating and record card sorting systems and machines. After the window opening in the adhesive sheet has been formed an image bearing frame of mirco-film is mounted in the aperture and against the remaining portion of the adhesive sheet to produce a recordcard with the picture record of the data recorded or to be recorded thereon, which facilitates classifying and sorting of the film frames, as wellfas filing and indexing thereof, as to subject matter. It is to be understood that the invention is not so limited and that the principles herein described are applicable to the die cutting of sheet material which is not mountedY over an aperture in a record card and, as to some aspectsk of said invention, is applicable to the die cutting of sheet material which is not adhesive. 1

There is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,l .a card, indicated at 5;

and 3 and hasa generally rectangular aperture 6 extending therethrough and of an appropriate size to receive a frame of micro-nlm or other insert of equivalent size `will accurately receive the uncut longitudinal edges of the film frame or other insert. Adhesively secured to one face of the card 5 and covering the entire aperture 6 is a very thin generally rectangular sheet 7 of transparent material which is coated on the 4inner surface with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive. To eliminate projecting edges and to -avoid increasing the thickness of the card 5, the sheet 7 is preferably embedded in the face of the card so that the outer face of said sheet lies flush with the adjacent face Iof the card. The sheet 7 is lutilized to retain the film frame -or other insert in the aperture 6 in the card S and to rmly hold said iilm frame or insert when lthe same is inserted into said aperture and pressed against said sheet as fully described lin my aforementioned co-pend-ing application. Disposed within the aperture 6 and removably adhering to the sheet 7, is a very thin temporary cover sheet 9 of readily removable material, such as glassine paper, said cover sheet serving to protect the adhesive on sheet 7 during all handling of the card prior to the processing of the ycard yfor the mounting therein of a frame of microfilm.

The die mechanism as set forth in the illustrated ernbodiment of this invention utilizes a card 5 from which the cover sheet 9 is removed from the adhesive sheet 7. My said co-pending application sets forth a suitable mechanism for removing the cover sheet 9 utilizing the four small holes 3 each of which is located the same distance inwardly from a corner o-f the card aperture 6 ondiagonal lines extending across said corners. Said holes 3 extend only through the adhesive sheet 7 so that suitable pins may be inserted therein to loosen an edge of the cover sheet 9 for the removal of the same. Each of the cards 5 are advanced to the die mechanism by means of a conveyor mechanism more fully set forth in my said co-pending application.

Each card 5 with the protective cover sheet 9 removed therefrom shows as 5a in FIG. 4 and is advanced by said conveyor means until it engages a stop nger 236. Upon engagement with the stop finger 236 the card is retained for a predetermined interval in a predetermined position at which the central portion of the adhesive sheet 7 is die-cut therefrom by said `die mechanism 17, thereby forming the card 5b shown in FIG. 4b, having a window opening 1t? in the adhesive sheet. The window open-ing lil is located centrally with respect to the card aperture 6 and smaller in size than said aperture, leaving an inner margial portion of said adhesive sheet` extending into the card aperture around its edges. The window opening 10 is of such size and is so formed that the four inner edges Vof the adhesive sheet 7 dening said Window opening are exactly tan-gent with the outside of the four holes 8 in said adhesive sheet to prevent tear-ing of said sheet during subsequent handling of the card.

The adhesive sheet die mechanism 17 comprises a frame 373 which is mounted on and bolted to the base plate or platform 22. The die mechanism 17 is quickly and easily located in its proper operating position longitudinally and laterally of the machine by a key, keyway 'and stop block arrangement as set forth in my application S.N. 649,372. The frame 37d projects upwardly from the platform 22 beyond lthe top of the conveyor 1S, Y Y and for purposes which Will presently :be seen, said frame is constructed to include two side mem-bersr372 and 373 which are spaced longitudinally of the machine, a transverse connecting shelf 374 adjacent the top of said frame, and four vertically spaced transverse connecting members 37S, 376, 377 ad 378 at the front of said frame, the members 375 and 376 being located above the conveyor i5 and the members 37 7`and 37S being located beneath said conveyor.

The various operable parts of the die mechanism 17 are driven through driving connections therefor with the` Y cam shaft Sil. For 4this purpose, the frame 370 has journalled in suitable bearings provided in the lower portions of the side members 372 and 373 thereof a short shaft 379 Which extends longitudinally of the machine and transversely of said frame and is located coaxially with, i

the cam shaft Sti. The shaft 379 forms in effect 'an extension of the cam shaft S0 and is connected to said cam shaft by a conventional disc type coupling 389 one part` of which is keyed and suitably secured to the cam shaft 50 and theother part of which is keyed and suitably secured to the shaft 379 and both of said parts being bolted` is keyed and snit-ably secured to one end of a short shaft 384 which extends transversely of the frame 370 and is journalled in suitable bearings in 'the side members 372 and 373 of said frame. Slack in the chain 382 is compensated for by an idler sprocket 385 which is journalled on and at the free end of an arm 386 which is adjustably clamped to a stud 337 carried by the side member 372 of the frame 374i.v The shaft 384 is driven through the described driving connections therefor with thecam shaft 5t) to make one complete revolution foreach cycle of operation of the machine and, hence, the shaft 384 may be correctly referred to as the cam shaft for the die mechanism 17.

, Disposed between the side members 372 and 373 of the frame 376 and keyed and suitably secured to the cam shaft 334 is ra stepped hub 33S which spans substantially p the entire distance between said side members.V Engaged over the hub 388 and ybolted or otherwise suitably se-y cured thereto is a cam 389 whichengages a cam follower 390 which is journalled on and at the free end of a short of a horizontal lever 393 having another arm 394. This lever 393 is employed to impart vertical reciprocating movement to a die which will presently be described. The arm 391 is formed with a depending lug 395i within which is adjusta'bly threaded a bolt 396 which enga-ges the arm 392 of lever 393 and is locked in adjusted positions by a ,i

lock nut 397. The cam follower 390 may thus be adjusted relative to the lever 393 toward and away from the vcam 389 by rotating the bolt 396 in the proper direction, whereby the stroke of said lever shaft 398 which is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in the side members 372 and 373 of the` frame 370. The cam follower 39) is yieldably heldin V engagement with the cam 389 by a'coil extension springl 399 having'one end thereof connected at Lilli) to the lever 393 and the opposite end connected at 401 to a similar. K

lever 402 to `be herein-after referred to. j

The 394 of lever 393 extends forwardly of the frame 370 between the transverse members 377 and 378 of said frame and is forked so as to partly surround and extend on opposite sides of a strong vertically tube '403. The tube 463 is formed with an external downwardly facing annular shoulder 404, and is jou-rnalled for "Y straight-line vertical reciprocating movement in suitable bearings provided in the tnan'sverse members 377 and 378 Y ofthe iframe 370 and in bearing caps 405 and 406 which Y are 'bolted or otherwise suitably secured to said frame.

members,'respectively. 'Ihe arm 394 of lever 3931 has pivotally connectedthereto at opposite sides of the tube 433 by studs 407 the lower ends )of vertical links 408 the upper ends of which are pivotally connected by pins 499 v toa ring or collar lltlwhich surrounds said tube and is positioned in abutting relation with the `shoulder 404 on the tube, said pins being suitably secured ino-r formedVV i and, hence, the pressure 1 of the die operated thereby may Ibe adjusted to a desired degree. The lever 393 is clamped to :a transverse stuby disposedV integrally with said ring. The ring 41h is keyed to the tube $3 against relative rotation yand is also suitably secured -to said tube. In order to further prevent rotation of the tube 453 relative to the ring 410 land the frame 379, said ring is `formed with a hat forwardly projecting lug ill which is slida'bly fitted in an' elongated vertical slot 4l2 formed in a guide block 413 which is recessed into the bearing cap d5 and bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto. lt will thus be apparent that the tube @'33, through the described operating connections therefor with the cam lever 93, will be raised by the carin 389 and will be lowered by the spring 39 under the control o said cam, and that such raising and lowering movements of said tube will occur once during each cycle of operation of the machine.

The relative positions of .the tube 493 and the second card stop linger 236 `are such that with the card 5a engaged with and stopped by said linger, the vertical axis of said tube passes through the center of the aperture 6 in said card. In the normal lowered position of the tube 483 as shown in FlG. 5, lthe upper end of said tube projects upwardly beyond the bearin'g cap 495 and is spaced downwardly from the card supporting plate 172 a predetermined distance. Resting on top of the tube 4h33 and secured thereto, as by machine screws 414, is a die holder 41S which is -formed to include centrally thereof an upwardly projecting rectangular block- Alle having .a rectangular opening i7 extending verticali therethrough and communicating with the interior of said tube the inner diameter of which is somewhat larger than the longer dimension of said opening. The die holder -LS is rotatably positioned on the tube 63 such that the four sides of the block Alle and the four edges of the opening 4&7 therein are parallel to the four edges of the operture 6 in the card 5a as positioned on the conveyor against the stop linger 236 and the side guide bar T174-, The size of the opening di? in the block llo is the same as the size of the central portion of the adhesive sheet 7 which is to :be die-cut from said adhesive sheet to form fthe window opening lil therein, said `central portion, in the illustrated embodiment, being that portion of the adhesive sheet containing the four holes S. j

Positioned to rest on and extend lengthwise of the op'- posed longitudinal rims of the block ilo are two hat cutting knives l. The confronting inner plane surfaces of the knives (21S are hush with the confronting longitudinal walls of the opening 417 and terminate at the tops thereof in cutting edges i9 which are square with the vertical taxis of the tube 4%. The length of the cutting edges i9 of the knives 418 is equal to the distance between the centers of the front and rear holes t; in the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5. The knives di@ are secured, as by machine screws @226, to backing plates 2l which, in turn, lare secured, as by machine screws 422, to the `outer longitudinal surfaces of the block 416. Positioned to rest on and extend lengthwise of the opposed transverse rirns of the block S16 are two flat cutting knives .23 the confronting inner plane surfaces of which are flush with the `confronting transverse walls of Ithe opening d'7 and terminate at the tops thereof in cutting edges 424 which are'also square with the vertical axis of the ube 4%. The length of the cutting edges 42d of the knives 423 is less than the length of the bodies of said knives, but is equal -to the distance between the `centers of the near and far holes in the adhesive sheet 7 on .the card 5. The length of the bodies of the knives 42.3

is such -that they span the knives LHS and are snugly confined between the vbacking plates 421 which serve to hold the knives 425 against any endwise horizontal displacement. rhe knives 423 are tirrnly pressed against the ends of the kni es d8 and held against upward and outward displacement by cone-pointed set-screws 425 which are threaded in' suitable threaded openings formed in backin plates 426 and are engaged in suitable depressions or recesses in the knives 423. The backing plates 426 are secured, as by machine screws 427, to the outer transverse surfaces of the block di. The cutting edges 419 .and 424i- 'of the knives did and 423, respectively, are all located in the same horizontal plane, and in the normal lowered position' of the tubeV auf, said cutting edges are located a predetermined distance away from the line of. travel of the cards.

it will be apparent that when the die comprising the knives ilt, 41S `and 423, 423 is moved upwardly through a suitable clearan opening formed in the card supporting plate 72 and is projected into the aperture 6 in the lcard 5a, ythe cutting edges m9, 419 and 42e, 424 of said knives, respectively, will engage the adhesive sheet 7 on' said card under pressure and along parallel longitudinal and transverse lines tangent to the outside of the holes 8 in said adhesive sheet. Under these conditions, the centrial portion of the adhesive sheet 7 will be die-cut from said sheet by the knives dile, 413 and 423, 423 in co-y operation with an Iupper cutting block 42S, -t-hereby forming a rectangular opening lll of a desired size in Ithe adhesive sheet and leaving a rectangular marginal portion of said sheet projecting into the card aperture 6 and having rounded inner corners. Y

The cutting block 423 is located above the conveyor l5 and the card 5a resting on said conveyor, and is carried by and at the lower end of y.a strong vertically disposed Itube 429 which is positioned coaxially with the lower die tube 463. The cutting block 42S and the tube i2? are formed with confronting wedge-shaped flanges d3@ and 435i, respectively, and for replacement purposes, said block is removably mounted on said tube by a split ring clamp 532 which surrounds said tlanges and is formed with an internal annular groove 433 to receive the ilanfges therein. The groove 433 is formed with opposed tapering surfaces which mate with the tapering sur- -aces of the flanges i3d and il, respectively, whereby 'the cutting block 428 will be iirmly drawn `axially, toward the tube 429 by the clamp 432 by a wedgin'g action. The two parts of thering clamp 452 are pivotally connected together .by `a lnik 434 to enable separation of said parts tand opening and closing of said clamp. The two parts el? the ring clamp 432 lare drawn together by a bolt 43S which is threaded in a pivot pin-436 looselyrnoun-ted in` one of said parts and is loosely'reoeived vin clearance slots formed in both ol said parts to enable pivotal movement of said bolt to clamp opening and closing positions. ln order to alleviate shock and to cushion the action of the die dlS, 423, a disc or annu-lar pad 43S- of rubber or other suitable cushioning material is interposed between the cutting block 4328 and the tube 429. rthe cutting blo-ck 42S and the cushion disc 43S are properly centered on the tube d2@ by two fdiarnetrioallyv opposite locating pins 439 which .are suitably secured in said tube and project vdownwardly :therefrom into suitable `axially aligned openings formed in said block and said disc. lllhe diameter of the cutting block 428 is substantially equal to lthe longer dimension of the adhesive sheet '7 on the card 5. l

The tube 429 is formed with an external upwardly facing annular shoulder 440, and is journalled for straightline vertical reciprocating movement in suitable bearings provided in the transverse members 3,75 and 376 of the frame 379 and in bearing caps Ml and 442 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to said frame meinbers, respectively'. Vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the tube 429 and the cutting block 423 thereon by the lever 402 previously referred to. This lever 492,

like the lever 393, is disposed between the side members 372 and 373 or" the frame 370 and has one arm 443 which projects toward the back of said frame, and another arm 444 which projects toward and beyond the liront of said frame and is forked so as to partly surround and extend on opposite sides of the tube 429. The lever 402 is clamped to a transverse stub shaft 445 which is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in the side members 372 and 373 of the frame 376. The arm 444 of the lever 462 'has pivotally connected thereto at opposite sides of the tube 429 by studs 446 the upper ends of vertical links 447 the lower ends of which are pivotally connected by pins 44S to a ring or collar 449 which surrounds said tube and is positioned in abutting relation with the shoulder 440 on the tube, said pins being suitably secured in or formed integrally with said ring. The ring 449 is keyed to the tube 429 against relative rotation and is also suitably secured to said tube. In order to further prevent rotation of the tube 429 relative to the ring 449 and the frame 376, said ring is formed with a flat forwardly projecting lug 45d which is slidably fitted in an elongated vertical slot 451 formed in a guide block 452 which is recessed into the bearing cap 442 and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

The arm 443 of lever 462 has pivotally mounted thereon at the free end thereof of an arm 453 having journalled thereon a cam follower 454 which engages a cam 455 that is engaged over and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the hub 388 on the cam shaft 334. 'Ihe arm 453 is formed with an opstanding lug 456 within which is adjustably threaded a bolt 457 which engages the arm 443 of lever 462 and is locked in adjusted positions by a lock nut 458. The `cam follower 454 may thus be adjusted relative to the lever 462 toward and away from the cam 455 by rotating the bolt 457 in the proper direction, Whereby the stroke of said lever and, hence, the extent of downward movement of the cutting block 428 may be regulated to a desired degree and such that said block just contacts the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a. The cam follower 454 is yieldingly held in engagement with the cam 455 by the spring 399, and in order to insure continued engagement of said cam follower with said cam, as well as the cam follower 396 with the cam 339, two of said springs are preferably employed and connected in side-by-side relation to the levers 402 and 393. It will thus be apparent that the tube 429 and the cutting block 423 thereon, through the described operating connections therefor with the cam lever 462, will be lowered by the cam 455 and will be raised by the springs 399 under the control of said cam, and that such lowering and raising movements of said tube and said block will occur once during each cycle of operation of the machine.

In the normal raised position of the tube 429, as shown in FIG. 5, the cutting block 428 is spaced upwardly away from the line of travel of the cards substantially the same distance that the die 418, 423 is spaced downwardly away from said line of card travel in the normal lowered position of the tube 403. The operations of the die 4&8, 423 and the cutting block 423 are so timed that said die and said block are moved in unison toward and away from each other, whereby the die and the block will simultaneously engage the lower and upper surfaces, respectively, of the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a, and after a predetermined interval said die and said block willV simultaneously move away from and clear of said card so that the latter may be moved to the next station. lt will be apparent that upon engagement of the die 445%, 423 and the cutting block 428 with the adhesive sheet 7 on the card a as described, said die will press said adhesive sheet against said block and thereby die-cut the center Y portion of the adhesive sheet, and the block, in addition to providing a cutting surface for the die to operate against, serves to hold said card against vthe supporting plate 172 and against upward displacement from said plate by said die during the cutting operation on the adhesive sheet.

Means are provided for moving the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet '7 away from the cutting block 428 and beyond the cutting edges 4H, 4l? and 424, 424 of the die to a position completely clear of said cutting edges and the card 5a so as to insure that said card is devoid of the die-cut center portion when advanced t k the next station and that said center portion will present no interference to the movement of subsequent cards and to the proper operation of the die and cutting block on said cards. As herein shown, said means comprises a rectangular vacuum shoe 459 which is centrally located with respect tothe cutting clock 428 and is normally disposed within a corresponding clearance opening 460, formed in and extending axially through said block. The length and width of the shoe 459 is slightly less than that of the die-cut window opening 1t) in the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a so as to enable vertical movement of said shoe therethrough. The shoe 459 is formed in the lower surface thereof with a shallow chamber 461 which, except for a narrow rim around said shoe, extends over the entire area of said surface. The chamber 461 is closed by a perforated cover plate 462 which is Secured to thev shoe 459, as by machine screws 463, the perforations Yin said plate communicating with the chamber 461 and being distributed substantially over the entire area of said plate. The shoe 459 is integrally formed with and at the lower end of a short annular member 464 which projects upwardly from said shoe into the tube 429 and is slidably fitted in a flanged bushing 465 whichV is suitably secured y in the lower end of said tube, as by a press lit.

The annular member 464 is counterbored for a major portion of the length thereof to receive therein the lower i end of an elongated tube 466, and said member is provided in the base portion thereof with a series of circumferentially spaced vertical ports or passages 467 which communicate at the upper ends thereof with the interior of the tube 466 and at the lower ends thereof with the chamber 461 in the shoe 459. 'For purposes to be hereinafter described, the annular member 464 and the tube 466 are provided with a series of continuously registering relief ports 46S and 469, respectively, which extend radially therethrough and are equally spaced around the-same,r

and the bushing 465 and tube 429 are provided with a corresponding series of continuously registering relief ports 476 and 471 which extend radially therethrough and are correspondingly spaced around the same. In the normal raised retracted position of the vacuum shoe 459, the relief ports 468 and 469 are axially spaced upwardly from and out of communication with the relief ports 47) and 471.

The tube 466 is received at `the upper end thereof in 'Y the lower larger diameter portion 472 of a stepped counterbore in a cap 473 which is slida-brly fitted in the upper end of the tube 429 Iand projects upwardly beyond said tube, the upper smaller diameter portion of said counteribore being indicated at 474 and forming in said cap an exim annular chamber 475 which extends substantiallyl i rPhe vacuum shoe 459, the tube f iirmly tightened .against said cap. The rod 476 is of 1a Y .diameter less than the inside diameter of the tube 466.Y

and that of .the chamber 475 in the cap 473. It will thus be seen that .the chamber 461 in the vacuum shoe 459 is connected with the chamber 47S in the cap 473 through the ports 467 rand the tube 466.

Reciprocating movement `is imparted 'at predetermined i intervals tothe unit comprising the vacuum shoe 459,V the tube 466 and the cap 473 relative to the tube 429 `and the: I cutting block 426,*and for this purpose, said cap is for-med A Engaged Y with .a flange 478 adjacentjthe top thereof. with the, upper surface of the flange 478 .and symmetrically V.disposed at' opposite Vsides of the centralaxis of the cap 473 are two wear buttons 479 which are suitablyiixed inthe freeY forked end of one arm 48) of a bell-crank.

lever itil having another arm d3?. which extends downwardly vat yan angle toward the rear oi the frame 379. The bell-crank lever itil is located between the side members 372 and 373 Kand above the shelf 374 of the frame 370, and is clamped to a transverse Stub shaft 483 which is journalled .at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in said side members. The arm 42 ot the bell-crank lever 43E. projects downwardly through .a suitable clearance opening formed in the shelf 374 and has pivotally mounted thereon at the free end thereof an arm 434 having journalled thereon a cam follower 485. This cam follower 4S5 engages -a cam 485 which is engaged over and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the hu-b 388 on the cam shaft 384, sai-'d cam being positioned between the oams 389 and 455 on said hub.

The arm 434 is formed with a lug 437 within which is adjustably threaded a bolt which engages the arm :SZ of the bell-crank lever and is locked in .adjusted positions by a lock nut The vcam follower 45S may thus be Vadiusterl relative to lthe bell-cnank lever 481 toward and away from the cam 4de by rotating the bolt 4de in the lproper direction, whereby the stroke oi said lever and, hence, the extent of downward movement ott the vacuum shoe 459 may be regulated as desired. The cam follower 85 is yieldingly held in engagement with the cam 486 by a coil compression spring 49d which is located within the tube 429 `and surrounds the :tube 466 .and engages at one end thereof against the inner lower surface of the cap 473 and at the opposite end thereof against a washer 491 which is engaged `over the tube 456 and rests on the inner upper surface of the bushing 465. Rotation of the unit comprising the vacuum shoe 459, the tube 466, and the cap 473 relative to the tube 429 in -all Iaxial positions of said unit is prevented by a .tubular stem 4% which is threaded 'at one end thereof in a suitable threaded opening formed in the cap 473 and communicates through said opening with the `chamber 47S in said cap for a purpose Ito -be hereinafter described. rl`he stem 492 projects outwardly from the cap 473 and has its other end slidably itted in an elongated vertical slot 493 formed -in a guide block 4%4 which is recessed into the bearing `cap 441 and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

f1/hen the cutting block. 428 is disposed in its normal raised position, the vacuum shoe 459 is yalso disposed in its raised position and such that the lower surface of the penforated cover plate 462. is liush with or slightly retracted with :respect to ythe cutting surface of said cutting block. it will be apparent that the vacuum shoe 459 will be lowered by the cam 4de and will be raised by the sphing 49@ under the control of said earn, and that such raising and lowering movements of said shoe will occur once during each cycle of operation of the machine. The cam 4&6 and the bell-crank lever 4Sl `are so chosen that with the cutting block 428 yand the die 413, 423` in their loweredand raised operative positions, respectively, shown in FIG. 8, the vacuum shoe 459 will be moved downwardly through the die-cut window opening lo in the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a into the die to a position suchl that the lower surface of the perforated cover plate 462 is slightly below the top of the die holder block 416, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 8, whereby the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet gripped by vacuum by said shoe will be carried by the latter to said position.

The operation of the vacuum shoe 1259 is so timed that is moved downwardly immediately after ythe cutting block 428 begins its downward movement towards the card 5a in unison with the upward movement of the `die 41S, 423, whereby said shoe will reach the adhesive sheet 7 lon said card and grip the center portion of said sheet at about the same time that said center portion is die-cut from'the sheet. VThereupon, the gripped die-cut'center portion of the adhesive sheet 7 is carried downwardly away from the card 5a by the vacuum shoe i459 upon con tinued downward movement thereof. As the vacuum shoe 459 approaches its lowermost position, vacuum in .the chamber 47S, the tube 46d, the passages 467, the chamber 461 and the perforations in the cover plate 462 is broken, and the ports and 469 register with the ports 47? and 47d, thus connecting said perforations, said chambers, said passages, and said tube with the atmosphere and causing the vacuum shoe 459 to release the diecut center portion of the `adhesive sheet at said position. When the vacuum shoe 459 reaches its lowermost posi- .tic-n, it is immediately raised and returned -t-o its original position through the resulting window opening itl in the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a. During this return movement of the vacuum shoe 459, the card 5a is held by the cutting block 42%;v against movement until said shoe is clear of said card, whereupon said block and the cutting die il, 423 are `also moved away from the card in unison to their original positions, and the vacuum shoe continues its return movement :to its original position in unison with the cutting block. l

When the die-cut center portion of the 'adhesive sheet '7 is released by the vacuum shoe 459, as above described, said center portion will fall from said shoe through the die holder 41715 and the tube 4d?) into a suitable receptacle (not shown) which is provided in the machine tand is located beneath the lower open end of said tube. However, in order to prevent the released and falling die-cut `center portion of the adhesive sheet '7 from dying about within the tube 4% because of the feather weight thereof and possibly clinging to said tube and the die holder 415, means in the `form of an annular choke plate 49S is pro ided for temporarily arresting the falling movement od said center portion before it reaches the tube 4% and for causing `it and subsequent die-cutcenter portions to build up in the die holder 415 into the form of a pad orf adhering center portions, as indicated at 49d, in broken lines in FiG. 8. In this manner, the diecut center portions are heid against falling into and through .the tube 40dy until the pad 4% thereof has increased in thickness sufficiently so that it will be engaged at the top thereof by .the vacuum shoe 459 and thereby gradually forced through and beyond the choke plate 4%', whereupon small sections of said pad will break away from the lower end of the pad, as indicated at 497, in bro-ken lines in FIG. 3, and said sections because of the `added weight thereof will hall freely through the tube 4&3. The choke plate 49/5 is located between and immovably held by the tube 453 and the die holder 41115' and is formed with a restricted rectangular opening 498 which is slightly sma'lierin length and width than that of the die-cut center ortion of the adhesive sheet and is formed so that the edges of said plate delining said opening yare slightly cham- =fered downwardly and inwardly.

Since the pad 4% of the die-cut center p rtions in effeet closes the opening 4l? in the die holder `4l5, the latter is vented by means or" transverse slots 499 to permit escape of the airv created within said holder between said pad and the vacuum shoe 49S through downward movement of said shoe with the die-cut center portion adhering by vacuum thereto. The slots 4% are formed in the upper surfaces of `the four walls of the block 416 andl they communicate with the opening 4t7 and with the atmosphere through horizontal openings 555 (FG. 5)

in the backing members 42,1 and vertical channels Sill;V

formed in and extending upwardly through the backing members 426. It is to be noted that due to the presence of the pad 4% of die-cut center portions in the die holder 415, each subsequent die-cut center portion will be pressed by the shoe 495 against the top of said pad, thus causing said subsequent center portion to adhere to the pad and further assuring that the shoe will be devoid of said cen'- ter portion when returned to itsoriginal position.`

Suitable means are provided for creating and breaking vacuum at predetermined intervals in the vacuum shoe 459 and as herein shown said means are mounted on and comprised by the following instrumentalities. Located beneath the plate or platform 22 and suitably secured to the supporting base i2 is a vacuum pump-electric motor unit, the pump being seen in FIG, 1 and indicated at 562, and an electric motor, not shown, which is controlled for starting and stopping purposes by a manually operated switch which is set forth in my aforementioned co-pending application. The pump and motor unit is of well-known construction needing no detailed description herein. rl`he vacuum side of the pump SL92 has connected therewith one end of a conduit 5nd. the opposite end of which is connected with a manifold 595. The manifold 595 is mounted on, and secured in any suitable manner to, the underside of the plate 22 and connected with said manifold is one end of a conduit 536. The conduit "566 extends upwardly from the manifold 5&5 through a suitable clearance opening in the plate 22 and has its opposite end connected to one side and adjacent the top of a block 537 which forms part of a valve unit indicated generally at 593 which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the outer surface of the side member 373 of the frame 37S.

The conduit 505 communicates with one end of a horizontal passage 569 formed in and extending lengthwise of the valve block Sti? and which, in turn communicates at the other end =thereof with a bore Sit) formed in and extending vertically through said block. The block 5W is formed in the bore Slt) thereof with two axially spaced annular chambers 511 and Sil, and with a horizontal relief passage 513 communicating with the chamber SEZ and opening outwardly to atmosphere through the side of said block at which the conduit 5% is connected. 'The chamber 5H also communicates with the passage 5tl9, and the passage 513 also communicates with the bore Sit). The block 567 has also formed therein a passage Si@ which communicates with the bore 51d and is located centrally between the chambers Sli and 512. Connected to theV block tl and communicating with the passage 5ft-tand with the bore 5l@ through said passage is the lower end of a conduit 51S which extends upwardly to the top of the frame 37d and then to the front of said frame and has its other end connected to the center branch of a T-tting 5316 by an extension 517. The T-titting Slo has connected to one side branch thereof one end of a flexible conduit 518 the opposite end of which is connected to the previously described tubular stem 492 which communicates with the chamber 475 in the cap $73. The vacuum shoe 459 which is pneumatically connected with the tubular stem 492 as previously described, is thus pneumatically connected with the vacuum pump 562 through the conduit 59S, passages 599 and 514 and bore 51tr in the valve block 567, and the conduit 515 leading to said stem.

Slidably mounted in the bore Si@ of valve block 597 is a piston valve 5l? which is formed intermediate its ends with a reduced annular portion 52% which is of a length substantially equal to the distance between the chambers 5H and 512. The lower end of the piston valve 5`l9 is rounded and projects downwardly beyond the block 507 to engage, and to be engaged by, the free end of a horizontal arm 52S; having journalled thereon at said end a cam follower 522. The arm 521 is pivotally mounted at the other end thereof on` a stud S23 which is suitably secured in the side member 373 of the frame rhe cam follower S22 engages a cani 524- which is located exteriorly of the frame 37d and is keyed and suitably secured to the cam shaft 334. The piston valve 5l@ is yieldingly held in engagement with the arm'SZl, and the cam follower 522 is, in turn, yieldingly held in engagement with the cam 524, by'a coil compression spring 52,5 which is located between said piston valve and a cap S25 which is suitably secured to the upper surface of the block 597, said spring being recessed into said piston valve and said cap and engaging against both of the same. The cap 526 is provided in the lower surface thereof with a clearance space for the upper end of the r v SEQ When =the cam follower 522 is engaged by the high part` of the cam 524 which occurs duriny the downward movement of the vacuum shoe 459 and before said shoe contacts the adhesive sheet '.7 on the card 5a, the pistonvalve 5i@ is raised to a position such that the chamber 511; in the valve bloei: 567 is in full communication with the passage 5M through the reduced portion 526 of said piston valve and the bore Slt?, and that the chamber 5i2 in said block and the relief passage 513 is completely` closed to the passage 53.4 by the lowerlarger diameter portion of the piston valve 5l9, said position yof said piston valve being higher than that shown in FIG. 12. Under these conditions, the vacuum supply conduit 506 and passage 5%9 will be connected with the conduit 515 and, hence, vacuum will be created in the chamber 461 Vin the vacuum shoe 359 through the extension 517, tting 515, conduit y518, tubular stem 4&2, chamber 475 in the cap 473, tube 466, and the passages 467 in the men1- ber da to cause the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet 7 to adhere to the perforated plate 562 on said vacuum shoe.

When through continued rotation of the cam 524, the cam follower S22 is engaged in the low part of said cam which occurs as the downwardly moving vacuum shoe 4559 approaches the end of its downward movement with the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet 7 adhering to the perforated plate 462 thereof, the piston valve 5l9 is lowered by the spring 525' to a position such that the chamber 512 in the valve block 567 is placed in communication with the passage 514 through the reduced portion 52d of said piston valve and the bore 51), and that the chamber Sil, the passage 569 and the vacuum supply conduit Sile are closed to the passage 514 by the upper larger diameter portion of the piston valve 5H. Under these conditions, vacuum in the bore Sli) in ,the valve block Sit? will be broken and the passage 514 n will be opened to atmosphere through said bore, the chamber 5M and the relief passage SES. At about this time, the ports 468 and 459 in the member 464 and the tube 45d, respectively, begin to register with theports 47@ and 471 in the bushing 465' and tube 42.9, respec-V tively, whereupon the'vacuum shoe 459 is quickly vented to atmosphere to cause said shoe to immediately release` the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet 7 as it reaches or just before it reaches its lowermost position.

Detector means is provided 'for detecting whether or not the center portion of the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a has been Adie-cut from saidl sheet by .the die 418, 423, Y

'and for controlling the operation of control means for causing stopping of the machine in the event said center portion has not been die-cut completely or otherwise"V from the adhesive sheet and consequently is not present on and vgripped lby the vacuum shoe Li59 during the downward movement thereof into the die LHS, 423. As

herein shown, said detector means comprises the vacuum shoe 459, and said control means comprises the follow- Y ing elements whichV are constructed, mounted andI con# trolled as follows.

Located at the top of the frame 370 and adjacent ,toy V` A the path of pivotal movement of the arm 436 of the bellic-ranlc lever Lidl is a bracket 530 which is bol-ted or other-V wise suitablysecured to the upper surface of the shelf` l 374 of the fra-me 37 ti. The bracket 53% s provided therein with a horizontal .bore 531'which extends therethroughY at right angles to the bell-crank arm 480 and is closed at the outer end thereof by a cap 532 which is suitably secured to said bracket, as byvmachne screws 533. Fitr ted for reciprocation in the ,bore 531 in the bracket 530 i3 is a piunger 53d which is formed intermediate its ends with a reduced annular portion 535, and at the inner end thereof with a reduced stem-like annular portion 535. The plunger 53d` is further formed in the reduced portion 535' thereof with a series of radially extending ports 537 which are equally spaced 4about said plunger portion and communicate with the bore 531 and with a bore 53d formed in and extending axially of said plunger and opening only through the outer end of the plunger. The reduced portion 535 of lthe plunger 534 and the ports 537 in said plunger are arranged to continuously communicate with a passage 539 which is formed in the bracket 536` and opens into the bore 531 in said bracket. Connected with the bracket 53% and communicating with the bore 53d therein through the passage 539 is one end of a conduit de@ the opposite end of which is connected to the other side branch of the T-tting 516. Disposed within the bore 538 in the plunger 534 is a light coil compression spring 541 having one end thereof engaging against the Ibottom wall of said bore and the opposite end engaging against a bolt 542 which is adjustably threaded in the cap 532 and is locked in adjusted positions by a lock nut 543. The tension of spring Sdi may thus be regulated as required by rotating the bolt 5d?. in the proper direction.

The spring 54d normally tends to project the plunger 534i outwardly of the bracket 53h toward the bell-crank arm 43d to a position such that the stem-like portion 536 of said plunger is normally disposed in the path of vertical downward movement or a cam surface 5ft-@which is formed on the adjacent side of a vertically disposed arm 545, such outward movement of said plunger to said position being limited by ya snap ring 545 which is engaged in a suitable internal groove formed in the bracket 53dy and around the bore 53d. This arm 535 is pivotally mounted at the lower end thereof on the bell-crank arm by a stud 547 wh'ch is suitably secured in said bellcrank arm. The upper end of the arm 545 is bifurcated to receive a pin 548 which is secured in the bell-crank arm 486 and serves to hold the arm 545 in upstanding position while permitting limited pivotal movement thereof toward and away from the plunger stem 536. It will be apparent that upon downward pivotal movement of the bellcrank arm 430, the arm 545 through engagement of the cam sur-face 5441 thereon with the projected plunger ste-1n 536 will lbe rocked in a direction away from said stern. lt will also ybe apparent that when vacuum is created in the bore 531 in `the bracket 530 above the plunger 534 as viewed in FIG. lll, and the vacuum pressure is sutilcient to overcome the resistance of the spring Sdi, atmospheric air pressure acting on the exposed lower end of said plunger will push the latter into said bracket until it engages .the cap 532, whereby the projecting stern 536 of the plunger is retracted out of the path of downward movement of the cam surface 54d on the arm 545 and no pivotal movement will be imparted to said arm by said stern. The cam surface 54d on the arm 545 and the stem 5736 of the plunger 534- are so relatively positioned that said earn surface will engage said stern substantially when the lower surface of the perforated plate 462 on the vacuum shoe 4.59 in the downward movement thereof arcane/s ld the frame 37h. In the normal positions of the arm 545 and the plunger S52 of the switch 553, as shown in FIG. 13, the screw 552i is adjusted so that the head thereof just contacts said plunger md that the plunger pin 5ft-9 just contacts said arm, said screw being then locked in its adjusted position by a lock nut 557.

It will thus be apparent that when the vacuum shoe 459 during downward movement thereof toward the card 5a is connected with the vacuum pump 592 through operation of the piston valve Sl as above described, the bore 5311 in the control bracket 536.? is simultaneously connected with said pump through the conduit 54d, T-litting 516 and the passage 539 in said bracket, but no vacuum or substantially no vacuum will be created in'said bore and said shoe because the latter is at this time open-to atmosphere through the perforations in the cover plate 462 on the shoe. The control plunger 534 will thus remain in its projected position. However, when the vacuum shoe 459* upon continued downward movement thereof reaches the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5a and the perforated plate 462 on said shoe is completely sealed by the die-cut center portion of said'adhesive sheet, vacuum is immediately created in said shoe and the bore 515i in the control bracket 53, whereupon the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet is immediately gripped by said plate, and the control plunger v53d is simultaneously is dis-posed a slight distance beyond the plane of the lower suitably secured to the upper surface of the shelf 37d of is suitably secured to a v j' spacer block 556 which, in turn, is bolted or otherwise retracted into said bore out of the path of downward movement of the control arm 545 with the bell-crank arm 45d. Under these conditions, the control arlm 5525 will not be rocked about its pivot i517 toward the switch 553 and, hence, said switch will not be actuated or closed and vthe machine will continue to operate in the usual normal manner. When, as above described, vacuum is broken in the vacuum shoe 459` through operation of the piston valve 5w, and the die-cut center portion of the adhesive sheet is released by .said shoe, vacuum is also simultane ously broken in thebore 531m 4the control bracket 539, whereupon the spring Sdi acts through expansion thereof to return the retracted control plunger 534i to its original projected position in readiness 4for operation during the next cycle of operation of the machine.

However, if the perforated cover plate 462 on the vacuum shoe 459, upon continued downward movement thereof beyond the plane of the card 5a, does not, for some reason, have the'center portion of the adhesive sheet 7 adhering thereto, indicatingthat an abnormal condition exists in the operation of the cutting die 41S, 423 and cutting block 42S, the control plunger 534 will remain in its projected position since the perforations in the cover plate have not been covered and sealed by the center portion of the adhesive sheet to cause pneumatic retraction of said plunger. Under these conditions, the cam surface 544 on the control arm 545, through downward movement of said arm with the bell-crank arm 48d, will engage the stem 536 of the projected control plunger 53dand through Vsuch engagement and further downward movement of said arms, the arm 545 will be rocked about its pivot 547 t0- ward the switch 553, thereby moving the pin 549 in the same direction and actuating the plunger '552 to close 4the contacts of said switch. Closing of the contacts ofswitch 553 closes the control circuit in which said switch is connected and effects stopping of the machine in a manner as set forth in my aforesaid co-pending application. Following this, the abnormal condition is corrected and, if necessary, a duplicate card without the cover sheet and with the window opening inthe adhesive sheet is placed on the conveyor and in engagement with the stop finger ,2S-6, and the machine is again started in a manner to be hereinafter described. The micro-switch 553 is self-opening, and when the bell-crank arm 480 is raised to its origi-y nal position to raise and return the vacuum shoe 459 to its original position, the plunger 552 through opening of said switch acts to returnthe control arm S45 to its .original position.

It to be noted that in the event the center portion of the adhesive sheet '7 on the card Sa is not, for some reason, fully die-cut from said adhesive -sheet by the die MLS, 423 and cooperating cutting block 428, and said center portion is gripped by the vacuum shoe 459, said shoe upon continued downward movement thereotiwill effectively draw the gripped center portion of the adhesive sheet over and along the cutting edges M9, 4&9 and 424, 424 of the raised knives A3, 23, respectively, and thereby neatly and evenly tear said center portion from the adhesive sheet without damaging the card 5a. The card 5a will thus be conserved and retained in the machine for further processing, and said machine will continue'to operate in the usual normal manner.

After the window opening llt) has been die-cut in the adhesive sheet '7 on the card Sa, esulting in the card shown at 5b in FlG. 4b, and the cutting die 4%, 423, the cutting block 42S, and the vacuum shoe 459 have been returned to their original positions clear of the resulting card 5b, the stop lingers 235, 23d and 237 are raised. Thereupon, the card 5b is advanced by the driven conveyor rollers 178 and l' beyond the stop ringer 236 to the driven conveyor rol-ler 180 which acts to further advance said card away from said die mechanism, at about which time the 'stop linger-s 235, 236 and 237 are again lowered to their respective card arresting positions inaugurating the next cycle of operation of the machine.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification and illusrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with one specific purpose, it will be apparent that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the illustrated die mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It isnot intended, therefore, that the present invention shall be limited to the embodiment shown nor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. ln apparatus of the class described, a hollow vertically arranged die for cutting portions from relatively thin hat material, said die having at the upper end thereof a cutting edge facing said material and conforming in size and shape to that of the portions to be cut from said material, a cutting block arranged directly opposite said die and cooperating therewith to cut said portions from said material, vacuum means slidable centrally of said block and movable into and out of said die for causing each diecut portion to adhere thereto and for moving each said portion into said die to a position spaced below said cutting edge, valve means for controlling the breaking of vacuum in said ejector means when the die-cut portion is positioned within the hollow die, choke means arranged within said die providing a restricted opening therein for releasably and temporarily retaining the die-cut portions therein forming a pad of the same, said pad being projected through said opening by said ejector means as the die-cut portions accumulate in said die, means for simultaneously imparting relative rectilinear movement to said die and said block toward each other to cut said portions from said material and to momentarily retain said die and block in cutting position, and means for imparting rectilinear'movement to said ejector means only when said die and said block are retained in cutting position.

2. in apparatus of the class described, a hollow vertically arranged die for Vcutting portions from relatively thin ilat material, said die having at the upper end thereof a cutting edge facing said material and conforming in size and shape-to that of the portions to be cut from said material, a cutting block arranged directly opposite said die and cooperating therewith to cut said portions from said material, vacuum ejector means slidable centrally of said block and movable downwardly intotsaid die for gripping each die-cut portion and carrying the same into said die to a` position below the cutting edge of said die, means for producing vacuum in said ejector means to cause the diecut portion to be gripped by said ejector' means, valve t said element having a relief port therein communicating means interposed between and pneumatically connected with said vacuum producing means and said ejector means for controlling the making and `breaking of vacuum inv said ejector means at proper intervals, means for simultaneously [imparting relative rectilinear movement to said die and said block toward each other to cut said portions from said material, and means for imparting rectilinear f movement to said ejector means in relation to said block` and in timed relation with the cutting of each portion from said material by said die and said block.

3. ink apparatus for cutting a portion from an adhesive sheet extending over an aperture in a card, die means comi prising a hollow vertically disposed die located below the card and aligned with the aperture in said card, said die. having at the upper end thereof a rectangular cutting edge facing the open end of said card aperture and conforming in size to that of the window opening to be formed in the adhesive sheet on said card, a cutting block located above said card directly opposite said die and cooperating with the latter to cut from said sheet the portion thereof formmeans for controlling the breaking of vacuum in saidV ejector means when the die-cut portion is positioned in the hollow die and means for moving said ejector means into and out of said position spaced below the cutting edgeV of said die only during the time that said die and said block are in operative relationship with each other.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3' wherein said ejec-4 tor means comprises a vacuum element for gripping and carrying the die-cut sheet portion tosaid positionrwithin said die, means for producing vacuum in said element to cause said sheet portion to be gripped by said element, valve means interposed between and pneumatically con'-4 nected with said vacuum producing means kand saidelement for controlling the making and breaking of Vacuum in said elementv at proper intervals, and guide means `for with the atmosphere, said vacuum element havinga reliefV port therein communicating with the interior thereof and being arranged to register with the reliefV port in said guide means when said element substantially reaches said position.

5. In apparatus for cutting a portion from an adhesive i sheet extending over an aperture in a card, die means compnising a hollow vertically disposed die located below the card and aligned with the aperture in lsaid card,` said die having at the upper end thereof a rectangular cutting 4 edge facing the open end of lsaid card aperture anidfconforming in size to that of the window opening to be formed in the adhesive sheet on said card, a cutting block located above said card directly opposite said die and c`o` operating with the latter to cut from said sheet the portion thereof forming said window opening therein, means for simultaneously imparting relative movement totsaid die and said block toward each other to cut said` sheet v portion, ejector means slidable centrally ot' and relative` to rsaid block and movable downwardly to engage and move the die-cut sheet portion into said die to a position spaced below said cutting edge, means for operating said( ejector means in timed relation Vwith the cutting of Said sheet portion by said die and said block, and means'cons trolled by saidejector means for interrupting said means for simultaneously imparting relative movement to said die and said block whenduring'pdownward,movement of said ejector means into said'die no die-cut sheet portion is moved thereby into said die. Y g, t

6. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said lastnamed means comprises Yan operable control member moyable in unison with said ejector means, an operable controlling member positioned under the control of said ejector means to cause operation of said control member when no die-cut sheet portion is moved into said die by said ejector means and to prevent operation of said control member when a die-cut sheet portion is moved into said die by said ejector means, and means responsive to the operation of said control member for causing stopping of the machine.

7. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said ejector means comprises a vacuum element for gripping the diecut sheet portion and carrying the same into said die to said position, means for producing vacuum in said element to cause said die-cut sheet portion to be gripped by said element, and valve means interposed between and pneumatically connected with said vacuum producing means and said element for controlling the making and breaking of vacuum in said element at proper intervals, and 'said controlled means comprises a pivotally mounted control member movable in unison with said vacuum element and having a cam surface thereon, a reciprocal controlling plunger, resilient means acting on said plunger to normally position the same for engagement by said cam surface and operation of said control member thereby, means pneumatically connecting said plunger with -said vacuum element so as to cause movement of said plunger to an inoperative position by the vacuum created in said element when a die-cut sheet portion is present thereon and seals the same whereby engagement of said cam surface with said plunger and actuation of said control member is prevented, and means responsive to the operation of said control member for causing :stopping of the machine.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said responsive means comprises an electrical switch connected in an electrical control circuit for maintaining the machine in operation and upon actuation thereof affecting said circuit to cause stopping of the machine.

9. y1n apparatus for cutting a sheet of material, a die member, means to mount said die on one side of said material permitting movement toward and away from said material, means for operating said die, a cutting block, means to mount said block on the other side of said material coaxially of said die permitting movement toward and away from said material, means for operating said cuttingl block, said die operating means comprising a driven cam, a lever operatively connected to said die, an arm pivotally mounted on said lever and having a cam follower engaging said cam, and cooperating means on said arm and said lever for adjusting said arm relative to said lever toward and away from said cam whereby the pressure exerted by said die on the material against said cutting block may be regulated to a desired degree.

10. yIn apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said block operating means comprises a driven cam, a lever operatively connected to said block, an arm pivotally mounted on said lever and having a cam follower engaged with said cam, and cooperating means on said arm and said Ilever for adjusting said arm relative to said lever toward and away from said cam whereby the extent of movement of said cutting block toward the material may be regulated to a desired degree.

l References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 557,018 Phillipp Mar. 24, 1896 907,690 Harbeck Dec. 22, 1908 1,236,338 Miller Aug. 7, l-1917 1,309,157 Stockman July 8, 1919 1,431,541 Randall Oct. 10, 1922 1,476,706k Furber Dec. 11, 1923 2,284,872 Jaeger et al. June 2, I1942 2,307,889 Korsgaard Jan. 12, 1943 2,514,659 McClung July 11, 1950 2,589,849 Oetiker Mar. 18, 1952 2,725,100 Payne Nov. 29, 1955 2,862,553 Brehm ..-l Dec. 2,' 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 828,009 France Feb. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION atent No. 3, 104,573 September 24, 1963 Stanley T. Stoothoff It s hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patant requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 15, line 45, after "vacuum" insert ejector Signed and sealed this 7th day of April 1964.

iEAL) ttest: EDWARD .T BRENNER INEST W. SWIDER `ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A HOLLOW VERTICALLY ARRANGED DIE FOR CUTTING PORTIONS FROM RELATIVELY THIN FLAT MATERIAL, SAID DIE HAVING AT THE UPPER END THEREOF A CUTTING EDGE FACING SAID MATERIAL AND CONFORMING IN SIZE AND SHAPE TO THAT OF THE PORTIONS TO BE CUT FROM SAID MATERIAL, A CUTTING BLOCK ARRANGED DIRECTLY OPPOSITE SAID DIE AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TO CUT SAID PORTIONS FROM SAID MATERIAL, VACUUM MEANS SLIDABLE CENTRALLY OF SAID BLOCK AND MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID DIE FOR CAUSING EACH DIECUT PORTION TO ADHERE THERETO AND FOR MOVING EACH SAID PORTION INTO SAID DIE TO A POSITION SPACED BELOW SAID CUTTING EDGE, VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE BREAKING OF VACUUM IN SAID EJECTOR MEANS WHEN THE DIE-CUT PORTION IS POSITIONED WITHIN THE HOLLOW DIE, CHOKE MEANS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID DIE PROVIDING A RESTRICTED OPENING THEREIN FOR RELEASABLY AND TEMPORARILY RETAINING THE DIE-CUT PORTIONS THEREIN FORMING A PAD OF THE SAME, SAID PAD BEING PROJECTED THROUGH SAID OPENING BY SAID EJECTOR MEANS AS THE DIE-CUT PORTIONS ACCUMULATE IN SAID DIE, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPARTING RELATIVE RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT TO SAID DIE AND SAID BLOCK TOWARD EACH OTHER TO CUT SAID PORTIONS FROM SAID MATERIAL AND TO MOMENTARILY RETAIN SAID DIE AND BLOCK IN CUTTING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR IMPARTING RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT TO SAID EJECTOR MEANS ONLY WHEN SAID DIE AND SAID BLOCK ARE RETAINED IN CUTTING POSITION. 